Biological weapon | Types, Effects & History | Britannica
WebApr 4, 2024 · Biological weapon, any of a number of disease-producing agents—such as bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, fungi, toxins, or other biological agents—that may be utilized as weapons against humans, animals, or plants. The direct use of infectious agents and poisons against enemy personnel is an ancient.
Biological warfare - Wikipedia
WebBiological warfare, also known as germ warfare, is the use of biological toxins or infectious agents such as bacteria, viruses, insects, and fungi with the intent to kill, harm or incapacitate humans, animals or plants as an act of war. [1] Biological weapons (often termed "bio-weapons", "biological threat agents", or "bio-agents") are living ...
Biological weapons - World Health Organization (WHO)
WebSep 6, 2018 · Biological weapons. Overview. More. Biological and toxin weapons are either microorganisms like virus, bacteria or fungi, or toxic substances produced by living organisms that are produced and released deliberately to cause disease and death in humans, animals or plants. Biological agents like anthrax, botulinum toxin and …
Biological weapons and bioterrorism: Past, present, and future
WebFeb 28, 2018 · Sometimes known as “germ warfare,” biological weapons involve the use of toxins or infectious agents that are biological in origin. This can include bacteria, viruses, or fungi. These agents...
What are Biological Weapons? – UNODA
WebBiological weapons disseminate disease-causing organisms or toxins to harm or kill humans, animals or plants. They generally consist of two parts – a weaponized agent and a delivery mechanism. In addition to strategic or tactical military applications, biological weapons can be used for political assassinations, the infection of livestock or ...
Biological weapon - Warfare, History, Pathogens | Britannica
WebBiological weapons are not as expensive to manufacture as nuclear weapons, yet a lethal biological weapon might nonetheless be the strategic weapon that would win a war. This prospect of military advantage might tempt some regimes to acquire the weapons, though perhaps clandestinely.
‘Critical opportunity’ to protect against biological warfare, …
WebNov 28, 2022 · The 1972 Biological Weapons Convention is the primary international framework for tackling the threat of biological warfare. It prohibits the development, production, acquisition, transfer,...
Biological and Chemical Weapons - Our World in Data
WebChemical and biological weapons are organisms, toxins, and chemicals used to cause death or harm through their poisonous properties. Alongside nuclear weapons, biological and chemical weapons are weapons of mass destruction because they can kill or injure large numbers of people and cause environmental damage.
Biological agent - Wikipedia
WebBiological weapons are pathogens used as weapons. In addition to these living or replicating pathogens, toxins and biotoxins are also included among the bio-agents. More than 1,200 different kinds of potentially weaponizable bio …
What makes biological weapons so dangerous, and does Russia …
WebMar 24, 2022 · The Economist explains. What makes biological weapons so dangerous, and does Russia have them? The weapons are banned, but the ban is poorly policed. Mar 24th 2022. V LADIMIR PUTIN’S forces...
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